Zhawanobinesiikwe – Awaazisii Doodem
Donna Evalina Maryanne Mainville started her journey to the spirit world on January 5, 2026, at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Centre with her children at her side.
Donna was born on April 12, 1966, at La Verendrye Hospital in Fort Frances to Biijii’ngwewidamok (Bessie Mainville), Netamiigaabo (Elmer Mainville). Donna grew up and lived most of her life on Couchiching First Nation. She came from a large loving family, and her siblings were always an important part of her life. Family dinners were a constant growing up, a tradition that remained long after her siblings had families of their own. Bessie and Elmer were powerful teachers, and Donna was grateful to carry many of their teachings and their deep love of their family onwards.
She will be reunited with her parents Bessie and Elmer; her son Wegozisimin (Bill Mainville); grandchild Ogimaa Bines (Hayden Mainville); and great-grandchild Reami Jade Smith; as well as her brothers Maurice Burns, Nick Mainville, John “Ritchie” Mainville and two sisters Theresa Mainville and Betty Mainville.
Left to cherish memories of her are her siblings Anita (Norm) Copenace, Tony Mainville, Elmer Mainville, and Gloria Mainville-Manitowabi; her children James (Brian) Mainville, Toni-Lynn (Jay) Mainville-Bruyere, John (Agnieszka) Mainville, Deonna Mainville; and her many grandchildren whom she loved so dearly. She will also be greatly missed by her nieces and nephews whom she loved like her own children, and friends whom she considered family.
Zhawanobinesiikwe (Donna) carried love like a living prayer; it was the foundation of who she was and how she moved through the world. She understood that love wasn’t always soft or easy; sometimes it came in the form of honesty, discipline, or fierce protection. Even when her words were sharp, they came from a place of deep compassion and hope, and a desire to see those whom she loved grow up, thrive, and stand strong on their own. At her workplace, she was recognized for her warmth and dedication. Donna poured her spirit into helping others, nurturing those around her, and creating spaces where people—especially children and families—could feel seen and supported. Through her work and her life, Donna showed us that love can be gentle yet strong and provide comfort and courage.
Donna felt that the kids in Treaty 3 struggled with self-image, and she wanted to change that by helping them embrace the Couchiching Child Care Declaration: “I am a beautiful Anishinaabe child and I deserve to be loved. I am a good child, and I deserve to be treated in a good way. I can share my feelings, my feelings are very important. I am a future leader, and I deserve to be respected. I am a valuable member of Couchiching First Nation and I am not alone.”
She saw love not simply as a feeling, but as an action—a way of healing, guiding, and connecting. Her heart was open to everyone who crossed her path, and she believed in showing people what it truly meant to be cared for. Her strength came from this deep well of love, which never wavered, even in difficult times. To be loved by her was to be reminded of your own strength, your own worth, and your own capacity to love in return.
Her family will miss the warmth she provided for the rest of their lives remembering her smile, her sharp wit, great sense of humour, her love of all things simple, like a plain hamburger, triple-triple, her hat, her mumu’s, hoarding, ribbing and teasing but most of all her hugs.
Pallbearers are Albert Hunter, Walter Mainville, Calvin Manitouwabi Jr., Jeremy McCoy, Joshua Nash, and Allan Yerxa.
The family would like to thank Dr Boake, and Dr Laxton for all their tireless efforts to help Donna recover. She fought a valiant fight but in the end her heart was broken, a heart so full, well used it finally just wore out.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that those affected by Donna’s passing help someone in need – or simply say a kind word to another person.
A traditional wake was held on Sunday, January 11, 2026, at Couchiching First Nation Multi-use Facility with traditional funeral the next day, Monday, January 12, at 10:00 a.m.
Arrangements entrusted to Northridge Funeral Home Ltd., Emo, Ont.
